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Death Toll Rises to 11 as Floods, Tornadoes Batter South

April 30 2017 05:30 PM EDT

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At a Glance

At least four tornadoes struck Texas east of Dallas.

Both directions of Interstate 44 were shut down in Missouri.

The storms have left at least 11 dead in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

Authorities in Arkansas are continuing the search to find two children who are missing after an attempted water rescue.

At least thirteen people are dead and dozens more injured as severe storms have brought flooding and tornadoes to Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas over the weekend.

At least four tornadoes struck Texas east of Dallas in Eustace, Caney City and Canton on Saturday, killing at least four people, authorities said. The officials cautioned that the toll could rise as search teams go through extensively damaged homes and buildings. Three hospitals near Dallas, where the tornadoes struck, reported receiving at least 56 patients, with at least two people are in critical condition.

The tornadoes were part of the same system that has put millions under flash flood watches and warnings. Parts of southwestern Missouri and northern Arkansas have received up to 11 inches of rain.

The flooding claimed two more lives in Missouri. The body of a 72-year-old woman was recovered in Clever, Missouri, in the southwestern part of the state, after floodwaters washed away her car Saturday. Her husband was rescued before the vehicle submerged. Sunday Authorities in Pulaski County told NWS that an 18-year-old man had drowned after his vehicle entered a flooded area west of Crocker, about 150 miles southwest of St. Louis.

In DeWitt, Arkansas, 65-year-old Julia Schwede died after a tree fell on her mobile home, according to local police.

A possible tornado struck Durant, Mississippi, Sunday morning, downing trees and power lines, according to the National Weather Service. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced that the state Emergency Managment Agency reported a death in nearby Holmes County.

The Missouri Department of Transportation closed both directions of Interstate 44 near Hazelgreen Sunday morning, the Associated Press reports. Officials say the roadway may remain shut down through Monday evening and the area will be monitored until the floodwaters recede.

The threat of severe thunderstorms, including possible tornadoes, will continue until Monday, and the threat of moderate to major river flooding remains until next week.

Missouri

Across Missouri, there were nearly 100 evacuations and 33 water rescues, according to the Associated Press. State officials also said up to 150 roads have been closed by flooding.

In Madison County, Missouri, two children were missing after an attempted water rescue, NWAHomepage.com reported. The mother was able to swim to safety, the report added, but she was unable to find her children, a 4-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl.

Gov. Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency for all of southern Missouri. The State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri National Guard, and Missouri's Task Force 1 Rescue Unit, have deployed resources.

Some of the most severe flooding Saturday night was in West Plains in far southern Missouri. The town was reportedly cut off by floodwaters, and power was shut off to the town because of the rising waters, according to local reports.

In addition to both directions of I-44 being shut down, U.S. Highway 61 was closed north of Troy and U.S. Highway 60 was restricted to one lane of traffic in both directions.

In Madison County, buildings were damaged and numerous trees and power lines were downed by a possible tornado Sunday, NWS reports.

Structural damage and downed trees were reported near Canton in Yazoo County at the intersection of Berryville Road and Highway 16 East Sunday, according to NWS. Damages were also reported along Scotland, Nod, Linwood and Dover roads.

Madison County Emergency Management Agency representative Tom Lariviere told AP that there were no damages when an apparent tornado came through Flora, but the storm ripped the roof off of a water tower. About 25 homes were damaged. A church was damaged in Attala.

More than 20,000 were without power Sunday, according to the EMA.

Texas

A round of severe storms that included tornadoes swept through several small towns in east Texas and left behind a trail of destruction.

Local television stations aired footage of overturned cars, uprooted trees, wet roadways and at least two flattened homes, reports the Associated Press. Pickup trucks at a Dodge dealership in Canton were flipped and the storm tore through the business.

Damage is widespread across a large area of Van Zandt County, where officials have issued a disaster declaration. A county official told AP that they have crews going door to door dealing with gas leaks and the downed trees and power lines.

A twister tore through parts of the town at about 6 p.m. CDT, and the National Weather Service issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation tornado warning to alert residents.

According to KLTV.com, the Ben Wheeler Volunteer Fire Department confirmed a body was found in a field in Canton as residents began to clean up the damage. At least 56 people were injured. Officials expected that number to increase.

Canton is a town of about 3,500 located some 50 miles east of Dallas. The town is home to the First Monday Trade Days Market, where thousands of people were camping this weekend.

Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency Saturday. That state has been hit with flooding and even snow to the north from Winter Storm Ursa.

Thunderstorms packing winds of 60 mph dumped heavy rain and strong winds on central Oklahoma that quickly led to flooding in several areas.

"One home in Hulbert was taking on water and it was coming through the windows before the people were rescued," Devan Brotherton, Cherokee County Emergency Management Communications Officer, told the Tulsa World.

Officials with the Oklahoma City Fire Department warned residents Saturday to stay home because of downed power lines and trees from the storm.

According to KOCO.com, several interstates were closed because of flooding and downed power lines, including I-235 between N. 50th St. and N. 36th St. and I-40 westbound just east of I-44. I-235 later reopened.

One person was injured in Caddo County when high winds damaged a mobile home, according to the county's emergency management.

Lightning ignited a house fire in Oklahoma City, KOCO reports. Lightning is also the suspected cause of a second house fire.

A person was trapped in an RV after a power line came down on the trailer.

In Muskogee, near Tulsa, streets are flooded and residents in the Gooseneck Bend area were trapped in their homes by rising waters.

By late Saturday afternoon, more than 18,000 customers across the state of Oklahoma were without power, the majority in or around Oklahoma City, OG&E reports. At one point, more than 80,000 homes and businesses were in the dark statewide, KWTV said.

Strong winds also toppled an iconic structural arch that welcomed visitors to the annual Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City. There were no reports of injuries.

Alabama

A person was injured Sunday after strong winds downed a tree across Highway 17 in Pickens, NWS reports. The tree collapsed on top of a vehicle, leaving the occupant with minor injuries.

Arkansas

The Rogers City Police Department in northwestern Arkansas responded to at least three water rescues Saturday, according to the NWS.

A flood warning was issued until Sunday night for the Kings River near Berryville in Carroll County. Forecasters say the river was expected to rise above flood stage Sunday morning and continue to rise to near 33 feet — 2 feet above flood stage — by early Sunday afternoon.

Flooding is expected along Arkansas Highway 143 and Meadowlands along the river's east bank. Low elevations around Clabber Creek will also be covered by water.

Illinois

Parts of southern Illinois have been flooded since Friday when rains began.

Broughton, in the southwest part of the state, has been isolated by high water. Highway 142 is closed from south of Dale to the Saline County line.

Mississippi

Officials in Hinds County reported that a possible tornado Sunday morning damaged a home and downed trees just north of Utica. Trees were also downed in Adams County near Natchez.

Sunday a man in Prentiss was struck by lightning near his home, according to AP. Emergency Management Agency director Jocelyn Ragsdale said the condition of the man is unknown. His identity has not yet been released.

Telephone poles are knocked down along a road in Oklahoma City, Okla. after severe weather hit the area on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (@elsicomoro/instagram)

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